Analyst: GOP should consider a more positive message

MARTINSBURG – With the 2014 election cycle already heating up, a host of opportunities presents themselves to the Republican party both nationally and statewide. In an effort to maintain a clear vision of its goals while also working to reach out to young voters, party members must address the question, “How can the Republican party transcend ‘cool’ and become timeless?”

Kristen Soltis Anderson, vice president of The Winston Group, spoke on that topic Saturday afternoon at the West Virginia Federation Republican Women’s spring board meeting held in Martinsburg.

Anderson said her research on young voters showed they simply don’t hear the GOP.

“There are many of my peers who do not view the Republican Party as new or fresh or relevant,” Anderson said. “When the GOP speaks, it’s the equivalent of a band playing on the radio that no one wants to hear.”

Opponents, Anderson said, paint the GOP as the “fend-for-yourself party” or the “you’re-on-your-own party.” Anderson said the GOP actually believes that individuals and communities are the best ways to solve problems, not government.

“(Democrats) were proclaiming government is the only thing we all belong to,” Anderson said.

While polling young Obama voters across the country, Anderson said she found moderate Republicans and independents who had ideals in line with the GOP, but that they didn’t see the picture of “big government.”

The imagery of that phrase didn’t resonate with them, Anderson said.

“When these Republicans stand up and say, ‘we do not agree with this big government solution,’ we’re right,” Anderson said. “But, a new generation of voters doesn’t really know what we’re talking about, and they just want to know, ‘So what’s our better alternative?'”

Anderson said the GOP can give to young voters historic examples of government failures and statistics on the national debt, but young people will be more attracted to a positive message.

Tapping into the concept of “togetherness,” a characteristic Anderson said is unique to American culture, is part of that positive messaging. Anderson made many references to the ways in which Americans organize, create and make progress together independent from government, such as youth groups and volunteer and service organizations.

“It’s a new way of talking about what it means to be a Republican, but it’s what’s woven right into the fabric of our nation.”